Intubating pharyngeal airway

ABSTRACT

A intubating pharyngeal airway having a side access for passage of a tube on the said airway comprising a flanged stop at the proximal end, a curved airway central tubular member and a distal ball tip adapted to fit into the vallecular. The side opening may be expanded or closed by means of either a hinge on the opposite side wall of the tube or by a cap or insert closure.

This application is a divisional of copending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 708,274, filed July 23, 1976, and entitled IntubatingPharyngeal Airway. In addition, this application is related to copendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 750,739, filed Dec. 15, 1976, and Ser.No. 777,641, filed even date herewith, and each being a divisional ofsaid application Ser. No. 708,274.

REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS

Reference is made to Berman U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,507 issued Jan. 6, 1976for an adjustable oral airway, to Berman U.S. Pat. No. 2,599,521 issuedJune 3, 1952 for a respiratory device and to the references cited ineach patent. The proximal location of an airway with respect to thepharynx, epiglottis, vallecular and trachea of a patient may be seen inFIG. 10 of Berman U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,507.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The device shown in Berman U.S. Pat. No. 2,599,521 is used for thepurposes of aiding the breathing of anesthetized or otherwiseunconscious patients and such device is now well-known in the medicalprofession as the Berman Oral Airway. The Berman Oral Airway, and laterdevices modeled thereafter, is employed in the practice of surgery andmedicine by insertion into the mouth and pharynx of a patient to providea channel for respiratory purposes.

The adjustable oral airway of Berman U.S. Pat. No. 3,930,507 shows anairway having two sections slideable with respect to each other andjoined at the distal end.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Berman Intubating Pharyngeal Airway of the present inventionbriefly, but not by way of limitation, provides a tubular airway havingan openable side to allow passage of appropriate medical and surgicalapplicances, such as an endotracheal tube, into the larynx and tracheawithout the use of a laryngoscope. The side opening airway permits blindoral intubating of the larynx and esophagus with ease even in difficultcases of cardiopulmonary-resuscitation and anesthetic procedures.

The intubating airway is designed to place an endotracheal tube into thelarynx and trachea while at the same time providing an adequatepharyngeal airway itself.

The lateral opening at the side of the airway allows the airway to beremoved from the mouth, leaving endotracheal tube in place. The airwayis designed primarily to place the endotracheal tube into the tracheaand at the same time provide adequate pharyngeal airway by itself. Theextra large lumen of the airway separates the tongue from the pharynxallowing a wider unobstructed air passageway from the lips to thelarynx.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the intubating airwayof the present invention, showing the hinge side.

FIG. 2 is a view of the opposite side of the intubating airway of FIG. 1showing the longitudinal side opening.

FIG. 3 is a proximal end view of the intubating airway of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 4--4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken across line 5--5 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken across line 6--6 ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view similar to that of FIG. 6 but showingthe airway in its closed position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary distal end view as seen across line 8--8 of FIG.1.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a first modified embodiment of the intubatingairway of the present invention. The side opening is visible.

FIG. 10 is a view of the opposite, hinge side of the intubating airwayof FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 11--11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 12--12 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to that of FIG. 11 but showing the airway inits open position.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 14--14 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 15 is a side view of a second modified embodiment of the intubatingairway of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a view of the opposite side of the intubating airway shown inFIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a proximal end view of the intubating airway shown in FIG.15.

FIG. 18 is a rear view of the intubating airway shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken in line 19--19 of FIG. 17.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 20--20 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 21--21 of FIG. 15.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to that of FIG. 15 with the plug closureremoved.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 23--23 of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a side view of the plug closure shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 25--25 of FIG. 24.

FIG. 26 is a side view of a third modified embodiment of the intubatingairway of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 27--27 of FIG. 26.

FIG. 28 is a proximal end view of the cap closure of the third modifiedembodiment as shown in FIG. 26.

FIG. 29 is a side view of a fourth modified embodiment of the intubatingairway of the present invention.

FIG. 30 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 30--30 of FIG. 29.

FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view taken across line 31--31 of FIG. 29.

FIG. 32 is a view of the embodiment of the intubating airway of FIG. 29shown in place in the mouth of a patient with an endotracheal tubepositioned therethrough. The patient is shown in partial sagittalsection.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawing, a preferred embodiment of the inventionis shown in FIGS. 1-8 and comprises a intubating airway 10 having aflanged proximal end 12 and an enlarged rounded distal end 14 with anintermediate curved tubular section 16 between the proximal and distalends.

Tubular section 16 is substantially uniform in cross-section andcomprises two longitudinal sections 18 and 20 joined on one side of tube16 by a hinge 22 and having a mating opening 24 extending longitudinallyof tube 16 on the opposite side thereof from hinge 22. A longitudinalopening 24 extends fully from end to end of intubating airway 10,including the proximal and distal ends thereof, whereby the airway maybe opened or closed at longitudinal opening 24 by rotation about hinge22. This feature may be seen in a comparison of FIGS. 6 and 7.

Intubating airway 10 may be molded of a suitable autoclaveble materialsufficiently rigid to maintain its shape and sufficiently plastic topermit flexibility in each and in opening and closing longitudinalopening 24. In particular, hinge 22 may be a molded hinge having anouter flex portion 26 adjacent proximal end 12 and an inner flex portion28 adjacent distal end 14. Due to the longitudinal curvature of tube 16,it will be noted that upper and lower hinge members 26 and 28,respectively, are not co-axially aligned and hinge 22 accordingly has adegree of flexibility and plasticity to enable opening and closing oflongitudinal opening 24.

Longitudinal opening 24 has a tongue and groove closure wherein tongue30 is an integral part of upper section 18 and mating groove 32 is anintegral part of and is defined in lower section 20.

With reference now to the first modified embodiment of the invention asshown in FIGS. 9-14, intubating airway 10a comprises an integral flangedproximal end 12a, an expanded integral ball distal end 14a and alongitudinally curved tubular mid-section 16a having a longitudinallyextending open side 24a and an opposite hinge side 22a, allsubstantially similar to similar portions of the preferred embodiment.

Longitudinal opening 24a is a snap-closure comprising a longitudinalmale member 30a formed integrally with upper section 18a of tube 16a anda longitudinal female member 32a formed and defined in lower section 20aof tube 16a. The snap-closure and opening may be seen in a comparison ofFIGS. 11 and 13.

A second modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 15-25.Intubating airway 10b comprises an integral flanged proximal end 12b, aninner expanded rounded distal end 14b and an intermediate longitudinalcurved tubular section 16b having a longitudinal opening 24b along oneside thereof. Longitudinal opening 24b is large enough to pass laterallysuch suitable surgical and medical devises as an endotracheal tube 50such as is shown in FIG. 32 in connection with another embodiment.Longitudinal opening 24b does not close by hinge action as is the casein the former embodiments and there is no hinge member per se in thepresent embodiment although the inherent flexibility of the materialfrom which intubating airway 10b is molded will yield some degree ofvariability in the transverse dimension of longitudinal opening 24b. Inthe present embodiment, longitudinal opening 24b may be closed by alongitudinal plug closure 40b which is adapted to snap laterally orslide longitudinally into longitudinal opening 24b and thereby close thesame. Plug closure 40b comprises a longitudinal body section 42b havingupper end lower grooves 44b and 46b, respectively, to engage upper andlower jaws 31b and 33b, respectively, of longitudinal opening 24b. Themain body portion 42b is longitudinally curved in accordance withlongitudinal curvature of tubular section 16b and is provided with aflanged outer end 48b which acts as a handle for ease of insertion orremoval of plug closure 40b with respect to longitudinal opening 24b. Aswith flanged proximal end 12b, flanged outer end 48b has the additionalfunction of being a bite block which helps to secure the laryngoscopicintubating airway at the patient's mouth to prevent undesirable inwarddisplacement thereof down the patient's throat.

A third modified embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 26-28 andcomprises intubating airway 10c, substantially similar to intubatingairway 10b of the second modified embodiment, having a similar flangedproximal end 12c, an expanded rounded distal tip 14c and an intermediatelongitudinally curved tubular member 16c having a longitudinal opening24c along one side thereof.

A cap closure 40c is provided to close opening 24c by securing over theoutside of tubular member 16c. Cap closure 40c is accordingly a channelmember having a substantially U-shaped cross-section and is curvedlongitudinally in accordance with the curvature of tubular portion 16c.

A fourth modified embodiment is shown in FIGS. 29-32 and comprises aintubating airway 10d having a flanged proximal end 12d, an expandedrounded distal end 14d and an intermediate longitudinally curved tubularsection 16d having a longitudinal opening 24d, along one side thereof.Extending into longitudinal opening 24d, and partially obstructing thesame, are a plurality of retaining pins 35d which are preferrably moldedintegrally with tubular portion 16d. It is the function of retainingpins 35d retain a tube such as endotracheal tube 50 from unwantedlateral displacement through opening 24d or, conversely, to preventunwanted lateral displacement of intubating airway 10d with respect toendotracheal tube 50. Retaining pins 35d are provided with a degree offlexibility sufficient to permit lateral passage of endotracheal tube 50into or out of opening 24d when so intended and manually manipulated byqualified personnel. Retaining pins 35d obviate the need for otherclosure members and opening 24d but, nevertheless, such a closure memberas cap closure 40c may be provided if desired.

Also shown in connection with the fourth embodiment is a second set offlanges 13d located on tubular member 16d a spaced distance fromproximal end 12d, the function of all such flanges being to locate theintubating airway against longitudinal displacement with respect to thepatient's mouth and throat. As may be seen in FIG. 32, flanged proximalend 12d engages against the patient's lips to limit inward displacementof the airway while flanges 13d lock inside patient's teeth to preventunwanted outward displacement of the airway. It may be seen that thetubular construction of the airway together with the side openingthereof provides an airway of unparalleled usefulness.

While the foregoing is illustrative of preferred and modifiedembodiments of the invention it is clear that other modifications may behad within the scope of the invention.

A preferred material from which the airway may be molded or otherwiseformed is polyethylene.

What is claimed is:
 1. An intubating airway, comprising:a. a tubularlongitudinally extending body member said body member having alongitudinally extending side opening, defined therein, b. said memberhaving a distal end for insertion into the mouth and throat of a patientand a proximal end for location at the mouth of the patient, and c. acap closure member, said cap closure member comprising a U-shapedchannel removably engaged and secured over said body member at said sideopening to cover said longitudinally extending side opening.
 2. Anintubating airway in accordance with claim 1, wherein the length of saidcap closure member is substantially the length of said longitudinallyextending side opening.